Capsule-filler



A. M. M GUIRE CAPSULE-FILLER April 24, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1953 INVENTOR.

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A. M. M GUIRE CAPSULE-FILLER April 24, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4, 1953 A TTORNEY.

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United States Patent O CAPSULE-FILLER Arthur M. McGuire, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor, by direct mesne assignments, to Kurt J. Huttlinger, Philadeh phia, and William R. Deutsch, lthan, Pa.

Application June 4, 1953,-Serial No. 359,625

Claims. (Cl. 53-268) This invention has general reference to capsule-filling apparatus or means and, more particularly relates to a novel device especially useful to apothecaries and pharmacists for dispensing or putting-up doctors medical prescriptions; although my novel device is equally serviceable for filling capsules with granular or other materia medica; as Well asdifferent substances or elements of diverse, character.

I-leretofore, the preparation and filling of medical prescriptions into capsules, by pharmacists and druggists, has not only been a time consuming but a tedious manual. procedure; while it has also involved a considerable degree of careful attention in order to prevent, under-or-over filling of said capsules, some wastage of the constituent drug or drugs specified in the prescrip tion, and/or contamination of the overflow, Another objectionable factor inherent to prevailing prescription filling practice is not only the time loss involved, but the difiiculty experiencedin correctly and accurately charging each capsule individually with the prescribed dosage of a medicinal compound.

The primary object of my invention is to overcome the abovestated undesirable factors, in a simple and positively effective manner, by providing a novel capsule-filler, whichis adapted to charge a selective series of ,capsulebodies, with a stipulated quantity of the prescribed medicament, inan expeditious and accurate manner; in which a complemental series of capsule closures are normally sustained in spaced axial alignment with respect to said capsule bodies; and in which the charged capsule-bodies are concurrently telescoped into mated position in the associated capsule closures by a simple manual movement. Another object of my invention is to provide a ,capsule filler device including adjuster-means whereby it is readily changed to accommodate different volumetric grades inthe medicinal dosage.

'A further object of my invention is to provide a capsule-filler of the above indicated species, that is compact, devoid of parts liable to get out of order, which is comparatively cheap to manufacture, and that'is easily kept clean and'sterile.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a capsule-filler of the type above referred to including novel mating magazine-components, one for reception of the capsule body-portions, and the other for the closures therefor.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide. a capsule-filler, of the kind above indicated, that may be manu V factored from any desirable material with the magazinecomponents preferably made, of plasti-glass" or an analagous material.

Other objects and novel features of my invention will hereinafter appear, as the nature of said invention is more particularly described in connection with the accompanying illustrated embodiment thereof; while suchembodiment may be considered as a structural typeof the novel device, well adapted for handling medical prescriptions,

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Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view to Fig. l, but showing how the capsule body portion is charged .with medicinal content.

Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a similar view to Figs. 1 and 2, but showing how the charged capsules are collectively and concurrently telescoped into mated position in the associated closure by a simple manual movement.

Fig. 4 is a broken, or compacted, perspective view of the base portion of my novel device with a substantial part in section to better illustrate an adjuster-means, hereinafter fully described. 7

Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is a vertical cross-section, taken as typically-indicated by the angled-arrows V-V shown in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 6 is a similar cross-section, to the preceding figure,'but taken on the plane VI--VI of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is afragmentary plan-section taken as indicate by the angled-arrows VII-VII in Fig. 5.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary detailsections, of corresponding character, illustrating how medicinal charges of difierential volumetric content are fillable into capsules, by aid of my novel apparatus or device Without Waste or spillage.

'In the above listed figures of the drawings, like characters of reference are applied to corresponding parts in all the views and, in the following descriptive matter, specific terms are employed for the sake of clarity. However, it is to be expressly understood thescope of my invention is not thereby limited, as each such term is intended to embrace all equivalents capable of performing the same function for an analagous purpose.

Referring generally to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, the base 1]. of the novel capsule-filler is preferably of hollow truncate formation; or, more precisely expressed, said base embodies elongate side walls 12; end walls 13, with rectangular cut-outs or openings 14 in the latter; and an upper trough 15,, of channel cross-section, with the ends closed-in at 16; whereas the web-portion 17 of such trough 15 is provided with a series of equally-spaced consecutively-located guide-holes 18; or a slot 18 may extend lengthwise of the said web-portion 17, for a purpose later on again referred to. Additionally, the elongate side-walls 12 have their lower portions 19 outwardly-flared to better stabilize the capsule-filler, as a unit; as well as apair of vertical-outsets 2i), proximate the end walls 12, and which constitute housings for adjuster-means hereinafter fully explained.

Incidentally, it is to be noted that, the trough webelement o'rguide-bar 18 see Figs. 4-10 to best advan- Patented Apr. 24, 1956.

tage; with the guide-holes 18 pierced through such bar 18 for reasons later on, herein amplified.

Supported within the base 11 is, what 1 preferably term, an actuator-element or bar 21, having rigidly mounted thereto a plurality of upstanding plunger elements or equally-spaced pins 22, arranged for elevation through the trough web guide-holes 18 or those of the guide bar 18 hereinbefore mentioned. At this juncture it is to be particularly noted that certain selected, or all of the spaced pins 22 may be equipped with a spirally Wound spring 23, in compression, intermediate the lower face of the channel-section trough 15 and the spacedly confronting upper face of the actuator-bar 21; whereby said bar 21 is normally influenced downwards into seating engagement on a pair of vertically-adjustable stop-clements, or horizontally-directed fingers 24, see Figs. 4, 5 and 6, to best advantage. Each stop-element, finger 24, conveniently, although not essentially, embodies a head-portion 25 and the finger portion 24, just aforementioned. in addition, the head-portion 25 is provided with a screw-threaded bore 26, for passage of an adjuster-screw 27 embodying a milled-head 28 with a relatively subjacent shouldered section 29, for socket-seating in the top portion of the respectively associated vertical outset 28, see Figs. 46; whereas each adjuster-screw section 29 is provided with a circumferential-groove 30 for radial entry therein of the inner end of a retainerscrew 31, whereby the respective screws 27 are constrained to rotary movement only, as readily appreciated or understood by those conversant with mechanical movements. it is to be further observed that the outer or head-portion 25 of each stop-finger 24 is conformablyshaped for slidable elevation and descent in a correspondingly shaped, vertical groove 32, see Fig. 7, of the associated outset 20, so that lateral movement of the stoptingers 24 is prevented and smooth-coaction of the parts 21, 24, 26 and 27 positively ensured. Furthermore, it is observable that the terminal ends 22, of the actuatorbar 21, are chamfered-down below the horizontal for a reason hereinafter clarified; while each such end 33 is equipped, inwardly thereof, with a relatively adjustable set-screw 34 for coaction with the confronting upper edge 35 of the base end-openings 14, as best understood from Figs. l-4 inclusive. it is also to be observed that the head 34 Fig. 6 only, of the respective set-screws 34 is located beiow the underside of the terminal-portions 33 of the actuator-bar 21, whereby said screws 34 jointly serve to evenly limit upward movement or the bar 21 by concurrently impacting the confronting edges 35 of the base end-openings 14; as well as being located difiicult of access, for unauthorized tampering therewith, when set for the desired elevation.

Referring again to the channel-section trough 15 the same affords inset-support of a pair of superposed lower and upper associated bar-like magazines 36, 37, respectively; and both of which are provided with axiallyaligned upright-borings 38, 39, individually gauged for reception of the capsule body-portion 4i and the cap or closure 41 therefor; as later on herein again referred to. The bar-magazines 36, 37 are preferably made of a desirable transparent plastic, such as plasti-glass for example only, while the upright-borings 38, 39 may be, although not essentially, slightly reduced in diameter, proximate the end portions for peripherally engaging the rounded or closed-in ends 42, of the capsule body-portion 43 and closure-cap 41, to aid in positionally restraining them, against damage, during the capsule-fillingand-closing cycle or period; as readily appreciable by those conversant with the art.

From Figs. 1 to 3 it will be best seen that the upper magazine-bar 37 is comparatively longer than the lower magazine-bar 36, and that the former is provided in its underside with a lengthwise-recess or groove 43 for mating-engagement therein of the upper lengthwise edge portion of the lower magazine-bar 36. Also, it is noteworthy, said magazine bars are provided with an index or mark, such as the numeral 3 within a circle for the purpose of ensuring their proper mating registration. See Figs. 1 and 3. Also it will be clearly apparent that the several borings 38, 39 are in direct axial alignment. Incidentally it will be seen from Figs. 5 and 6, that all the borings 39 in the upper magazine-bar 37 are counterbored to provide an associated stop-shoulder 44 on which the open end of the capsule closure 41 seats, as hereinafter again referred to.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 8-10, the reference character 45 designates a filler-trough of channel formation embodying spaced side-walls 46, end-walls 47, 48 and with an inner shouldering of said side walls to define a recess 49 for seating on the upper part of the aforesaid bar-magazine 36. Fig. la shows a mallet-like stop device or divider-gate 50, shaped for insertion in the filler-trough 45, by means of an integral pin-section 51, of a diameter for socketing in the selected boring 39 of the magazine-bar 37, and hereafter again referred to, in explaining the use of my novel capsule-filler device. 52 designates a scale on each end wall 13 of the base 11 for eorrespondingly-adjusting the level of the actuatorbar 21, to thereby uniformly elevate all of the plunger elements or spaced-pins 22 to a common-level by contacting the rounded ends 42 of the capsule body-portions 441 during the charging of the latter with the proper quantity of the medicinal compound, or other desired media, or article.

Having described the structural features of my invention, and assuming the device, by way of example only, is to be used for filling capsules with a compounded medicinal media in accordance with a doctors prescription for a stated number of capsules, the procedure is as follows:

The empty capsule body-portions 40 are, first of all dropped, or otherwise inserted, into the requisite number of borings 38, as called for in the doctors-prescription, with their rounded-ends 42 downward, in the magazine-bar 36; while a complemental number of the capsuleclosures 41 are correspondingly fed or placed in the align able borings 39 of the upper magazine-bar 37, as readily understood by the dot-and-dash line indications a and b respectively shown at the upper left-hand portion of Fig. 1. The magazine-bar 36 is next seated in the trough 15 of the base 11, it being held in place by a slight friction-fit therebetween; whereupon the filler-trough 46 is seated on the said bar 36, see Fig. 2, and 8 to 10 inclusive; when the divider-gate 50 is inserted in the boring 38 just ahead or adjoining that, of the capsule body-members, selected for filling. In the drawings the selection chosen is that of the doctors prescription, namely seven in number; so that the divider-gate pin-section 511s inserted in the eighth guide-bar hole 18 as readily understood, on reading from the left-hand of Figs. 1 to 3. The medicinal-compound 53, Figs. 2 and 5 to 10 inclusive, or other media, is now poured into and along the fillertrough 46 by aid of a conventional scraper or distributormember 54, Fig. 2 only, as typically indicated by the character c at the upper left-hand corner of Fig. 2; it being understood that said member '54 is moved to-andfro along the trough 45 until all of the medicinal-compound 53 has been evenly charged into the underlying capsule body-portions 40. The upper magazine-bar 37 with the inserted capsule-closures 41 is now matinglyseated on the upper end portion of magazine-bar .36 .in accordance with the indicators 3, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and by aid of the underside recess 49 in said filler-trough 45. The filler-trough 45 is, now, removed from its capsule filling, or charging location and placed on top of the magazine-bar 37 on one of its side walls 46, see Figs. 3-

and 6 to best advantage; whereupon the user of the devicepreferably places the outer joint of his or her thumbs on top of the .ends of the so 'placedfiller-trough 45, with the similar joint of the middle finger below the terminal ends 33 of the actuator-bar 21; and by contractive-action, of the fingers aforesaid, the said bar 21 is easily elevated from the position of Figs. 1, 2 and 5, to that of Figs. 3 and 6, as readily appreciated by the dot-and-dash line finger indication c, c and d, d; at the left-and-right hand sides of Fig. 3 respectively. The cyclic operations aforesaid concurrently result in the forcing of the charged capsule body-portions 40 upwardly into the respective axially aligned closures 41, as clearly understandable from Figs. 5 and 6, more particularly.

It is highly important to note that the adjuster-screws 26 and scales 52 jointly enable the accurate dosagefilling of the capsule body-portions 40, whether the medicinal compound be of heavy, medium, or fine consistency, see Figs. 8, 9 and 10 respectively.

From the foregoing, it will be clearly apparent that by my present invention there is provided a simple, efficient and very expeditious novel capsule-filler which is comparatively cheap to manufacture, easy to use, and furthermore effects aconsiderable saving of time; whereas said capsule-filler is thoroughly sterile, while being cleanly to use and immune against derangement when in service, whereas wastage or loss of any of the prescribed charge, for each capsule, during the filling period is positively prevented.

Changes in, or modifications of the embodiment of my invention may occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the inventive concept of the present invention; accordingly, to determine its scope, reference is directed to the following claims: I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact construction illustrated and described, but aim to cover by the terms of said claims all those alterations and modifications which rightly come within the scope and purview of my invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for closing capsules of the type comprising telescopically fitted complementary parts, a hollow base of generally rectangular form, a magazine member mounted at the top of said base and having vertical bores for reception individually of one of the said parts of a capsule, a pin extending into the lower end of each of the bores and providing a seat for said capsule part, a common support for said pins and means for adjusting the position said support vertically in the base to regulate the height of said seats in the bores, means for supporting a complementary capsule part in alignment with and above each of the parts first named, and means for applying forces to the support independently of said adjusting means to elevate the support in the base and thereby to cause the pins to displace the capsule parts seated thereon upwardly in the bores and into telescoped relation with the respective overlying complementary parts.

2. A capsule closing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the said means for supporting the complementary capsule parts comprises a second magazine member mounted at the top of the magazine member first named and having vertical bores for reception of said complementary parts in alignment and in communication with the bores of the first named magazine member.

3. A capsule closing apparatus according to claim 2 including means for immobilizing the complementary capsule parts in the bores of the second magazine member.

4. A capsule closing apparatus according to claim 3 including adjustable means for limiting the extent of the elevation of the pin support by said applied forces.

5. A capsule closing apparatus according to claim 1 comprising resilient means for normally retaining the said pin support in the depressed retracted position.

6. A capsule closing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the support adjusting means comprises a member providing a seat for said support in the base, means for guiding said seat member for movement vertically in the base, and an adjusting screw rotatably supported in the base and having a head exposed externally of the latter for manual adjustment of the screw.

7. A capsule closing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the base has a vertically disposed guide channel for reception of one end of the support seating member, said channel also providing a housing for said adjusting screw and terminating at the top in a seat for the head of said screw.

8. A capsule closing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the hollow base is open at the opposite ends thereof and wherein further the support for said pins projects through and beyond said open ends, the projecting ends of said support being thereby accessible for application by manual means of the said elevating forces.

9. A capsule closing machine according to claim 1 whereinvthe means for supporting the complementary capsule parts comprises a second magazine detachably mounted at the top of the magazine first named and having bores for reception of said complementary parts positioned for alignment and communication with the bores of the first named magazine member, said apparatus comprising also a trough member adapted for mounting on the first named magazine member and interchangeable with the second magazine member, said trough member having in the bottom thereof a plurality of bores arranged for registration with the bores of the first named magazine member and affording a means for depositing material into the capsule parts seated in the bores of the magazine member first named.

10. In apparatus for filling capsules of the type comprising telescopically fitted complementary parts, a hollow base of generally rectangular form, a magazine member mounted at the top of said base and having vertical bores for reception individually of one of the said parts of a capsule, a pin extending into the lower end of each of the bores and providing a seat for said capsule parts, a common support for said pins and means for adjusting the position of said support vertically in the base to regulate the height of said seats in the bores, and a trough member mounted on the top of said magazine member and having bores arranged for registration with the bores of the latter member and constituting a receptacle for material to be distributed by gravity displacement among the said capsule parts in the bores of the magazine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 899,761 Remington Sept. 29, 1908 2,322,169 Smith June 15, 1943 2,348,749 Norelli May 16, 1944 

